The intensification of hegemonic competition in US-China relations has made it difficult to pursue a state-centered East Asia discourse that emphasizes national interests. A new discourse on East Asia that centers on civil society and seeks an alternative East Asian system is needed. In order to make this transition, we need to pay attention to the voiceless, excluded, and discriminated against in East Asia, namely East Asian subalternity. The issue of East Asian subalternity should be studied to reveal the violent structures they are subjected to. Only when this issue is highlighted as a common East Asian issue will a civil society-centered East Asian discourse be formed. We also propose the concept of 'gateway city as a method' as a new approach to the study of East Asian subalternity. By recognizing the gateway city as a space of power where the dual nature of open/closed and connect/disconnect operates, the 'gateway city as a method' can provide a new opportunity to study the issue of East Asian subalternity to build citizenship and publicity space in East Asia.